The Best DIY Tips for Breaking and Cutting Concrete Materials
Posted on: 25 April 2017
DIY projects in your home can push you into doing almost anything. They are a fun way to spend the weekends and other holidays, keeping yourself busy while bettering your home at the same time. Concrete patios and pavements demand repairs after some time because of unprecedented damage and cracks. Carrying out such repairs by yourself may require you to cut and break concrete at some point. These DIY tips have some important things you must keep in mind when breaking and cutting concrete:
Match the Tools with the Job at Hand
The secret to a successful and stress-free DIY job is to match the job you are doing with the right tools. In fact, you reduce the risks of injuries and accidents by using the right tools for whatever job you are doing. Start by measuring the thickness of the concrete that you want to cut and examine the section around it for any reinforcement. Thin, unreinforced concrete with a thickness less than four inches can be cut and moulded carefully with a sledgehammer. On the other hand, thicker concrete brings a new dimension to the task. You will need advanced equipment such as hammer drills, jackhammers and electric breakers to cut and shape the concrete.
Remember to wear protective glasses and gloves when doing the cutting. Additionally, you might also need earmuffs to shield against noise-induced hearing loss when using tools electric powered drills.
Start with a Cut on the Surface
Once you are certain that you have the right tools for the job, use a piece of chalk to mark the particular area that you want to cut. It could be a hole, curve or straight line along the surface of the concrete surface. Cut slightly into the concrete to reduce the compactness of the concrete surface so that it is easy to penetrate through the inner layers. This cut should be made around the whole section that you want to cut.
Go Deep into Concrete
After making a dummy cut (and possibly identified any areas that may present difficulties), you are now ready to go deeper into the concrete. Preferably, you should hold the cutting tool in such a way that the tip leans away from the part of the concrete that you would like to leave behind. In this way, any erroneous cutting will be directed towards that part that you want to get rid of. Cracks and fissures will occur on the unwanted side while the main section remains intact.
To learn more about concrete cutting and core drilling, contact local appropriate contractors.
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